Real Madrid come from 3-1 down to beat Roma on Champions League travels | Football
Jose Mourinho’s Roma Reunion Ends in Dramatic Loss to Real Madrid
By AFP and The Associated Press
Published October 14, 2026
In a thrilling match marked by a late surge, Real Madrid overcame AS Roma 4-3 in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night at Stadio Olimpico. The victory featured a remarkable turnaround in the final minutes, delighting fans of the Spanish club and stunning the home crowd.
Marten de Roon opened the scoring for Roma in the 20th minute with a well-placed shot from 25 yards. The hosts, under the guidance of former manager Jose Mourinho, threatened to extend their lead shortly after, but Mario Hermoso’s misjudgment nearly cost Real Madrid. They responded on the scoreboard, however, when Kylian Mbappe equalized with a deflected shot five minutes after Roma’s goal. This marked Mbappe’s 100th Champions League appearance, making him the youngest player to reach this milestone.
The match took a decisive turn in the second half. Donyell Malen scored twice within six minutes to give Roma a commanding 3-1 lead. First, he finished a swift counterattack following a pass from Rodrigo Mora, then netted his second after a VAR check confirmed he was onside.
Despite the deepening deficit, Real Madrid came alive late in the match. Three goals in the final seven minutes, all resulting from corners, dramatically shifted the outcome. Carlos Espi ignited the comeback with a close-range finish, followed by a powerful header from Endrick. Antonio Rudiger sealed the victory with a goal in stoppage time, ensuring Real Madrid emerged with all three points.
The win leaves Madrid with six points from their first two matches in the Champions League group stage, while Roma remains at one point. Mourinho received a warm welcome from the Roma supporters, honoring his successful tenure with the club during pre-game ceremonies.
In other matches, Shakhtar Donetsk celebrated a 3-1 victory over AEK Athens at Stamford Bridge, marking a successful debut at their new Champions League venue. After AEK’s Lovro Majer opened the scoring, Shakhtar’s Pedrinho equalized from the penalty spot, and goals from Vinicius Tobias and Gleiker Mendoza later secured their win.
Bodo/Glimt continued their impressive form with a 1-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund, courtesy of a goal from Fredrik Sjovold. This victory underscores Bodo’s formidable home record in European competitions.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa registered their largest-ever European win, defeating Fenerbahce 6-0 at Villa Park. Nicolas Jackson scored two goals in the first half, and Ross Barkley added two more in the second, concluding with Tammy Abraham’s late strike.
These results set the stage for an exciting continuation of the Champions League group stage as teams vie for advancement.
